Trail between Columbia and Centralia in central Missouri proposed

Columbia, Missouri, Mayor Darwin Hindman has proposed building a recreational walking/bicycling trail between Columbia and Centralia, Missouri, along the COLT rail line, which serves the communities of Centralia, Hallsville, Browns Station, and Columbia, a distance of about 21.4 miles.

COLT railroad line map--click for full-sized version

Centralia Mayor Jerry Parmeley, a MoBikeFed member and avid cyclist, has now picked up the idea and is running with it.

Mayor Parmeley called a meeting last week, attended by representatives of the Missouri Bicycle Federation Board of Directors, the Centralia City Council, and Boone County Commission.

The proposed trail would be a "rails with trails" project and share the right-of-way with the active COLT line, which is owned and operated by the City of Columbia.

The proposed trail would interconnect with Columbia's pedway system, eventually connecting with Columbia's MKT Fitness Trail, which itself connects with the Katy Trail.

Participants at the meeting were generally supportive of the idea of creating a trail, while recognizing potential difficulties that lie ahead.

The next steps will be some fact finding about the legal situation and then building public awareness and support for the idea.

Anyone wishing to participate as a citizen in helping the trail move forward should contact Mayor Parmeley--jerry@centraliamo.org.


A Show Me News article outlines Mayor Parmeley's plans for the trail.

Outline of COLT facilities and issues.

About the COLT railroad, including this map of the line.